Expect to read lots of baby/toddler/children orientated reviews! lol
Expect to read lots of baby/toddler/children orientated reviews! lol
Member since:10.01.2005
Reviews:13
Members who trust:4
Having just come back from a weekend break on which we visited 'Drusillas Park' I logged onto Ciao to see some wonderful reviews but have been a little shocked by them as none rate it as highly as I expected them to!
I now feel the need to give you my sparkling review in which I aim to tell you all the reasoning behind their 'no ordinary zoo' slogan which other reviews seem to have omitted.
We had booked a weekend break with Haven at their 'Combe Haven' site in Hastings,Sussex. On our way there we passed Drusillas and decided to pick up a leaflet on site and visit it on the way home as it was about 30mins away from the park.
Please note I'm not easily pleased and the Haven above will not be getting a review as I prefer to write about things/places I'm happy with and I certainly wasn't with this place!
On Sunday I called Drusillas 24hour help/advice line to find out the prices and times,was a little shocked at the prices but they did state that discounts may be applied on quieter days so I took heed in this!
We arranged to go to Drusillas on the Monday,the day we were going home,and didn't hurry too much to get there early as it didn't appear to look like a very large park so thought that we would have plenty of time to look around in an afternoon.On the way there we were umming and ahhing over weather to go or not as the weather didn't look too good…..I won the argument hence this review!(and NO I'm not just writing a glowing review as to try and proof to hubby that I was right to stop off when he really wanted just to go home and get some rest!)
We really weren't expecting too much from the place,just thought it would be a nice little end to the holiday for our 3 kids.
Now it does state on the flyer we got that because of certain government rules/regs Drusillas doesn't have many road signs to direct you to the park.Instead they inform you to follow signs to Alfriston once you are in the East Sussex area.As we passed it on our way in we had an idea where it was,but I can imagine it could be quite easily missed……just look out for the bright yellow sign!
On arriving and pulling into the car park…..which I admit we were expecting to be small…..we were quite shocked by the size of it and the amount of cars/coaches that were already parked!Parking is free and is mainly on grass and stone,the stones were a little bit of an effort with the pushchair but it's not gravel so not that bad (parents with buggies and gravel drives will understand the difference!)
Parking was well arranged and the carpark overall appeared to be very tidy and well maintained. I also noted a lovely car which was painted with animals and related stuff which is obviously driven around to advertise Drusillas……looked really good…..I want one!
There was also a nice sheltered picnic area close by for those who wished to bring their own food(you
can stamp your hand on exiting the park and get back in once your finished your food via the re-entry path).
Once you get out of the main car park area you have a choice of 2 paths to follow,1 for re-entry and express entrance (for member ticket holders)and the other for the usual entrance. What a lovely surprise to find toilets located outside that you can use before entering the park…..only too often and obviously do I need to make a mad dash to loo's, passing most of the attractions on the way and hence taking away any of the surprise elements (you cant help but take a peep while the kids are dragging at your arms!)
Que time was minimal as it wasn't too busy (late afternoon by the time we got there!)There were 6 of us in total but we didn't have to pay for the baby…however prices do start from age 2.We purchased a family ticket for 5 for £50.…that was for 3 adults and 2 children(it doesn't need to be any certain mix of adults/kids just so long as there is at least 1 adult)You can also purchase family tickets for 4 at £40 and so on…so basically a tenner a head!At this stage we were still a little shocked by the price!
My 2 toddlers (age 4 and 5)were each handed 2 book each on entrance……one was for the 'zoolympic challenge' and the other for the 'animal spotter trail'which had pictures of certain animals found in the zoo with a box to stamp under it to show that the child had seen that specific animal.So straight away we started rummaging handbags looking for pens to fill them out…..but….there in a little hole in the wall…..was a load of pens (the argos type little ones!)with a kind note stating that they were free to use but donations kindly deposited into the coin slot…20pence for a pen or half an hour rummaging???You choose!
The first 'enclosure' we came to was that of the Pygmy Marmosets (don't worry I'm not going to take you on a complete walk through!)The kids were delighted that this animal was in their spotter book so me and nanny got our pens to the ready to let them mark them off…but…there next to the enclosure was a little table with a stamper set on it at the ready for the kids to use in their books!
The enclosure itself was to an astounding finish and you could see that Drusillas had thrived to make it as 'homely' as possible for the little mites and was perfectly clean and stunning to look at.
This extremely high level was continued throughout ALL the enclosures/pens/homes in the entire park and were very satisfying to look at.
The stamper tables were ALL working with no dry ink to frustrate little ones!The kids loved doing this part of their 'task' and we thought it a very novel idea to keep their interest…that and the zoolympics challenge…..
As we walked through the zoo the kids (and…uhhuum myself and hubby)were greeted with their challenges from the zoolympics,these were again very novel ideas to keep the kids 'hooked' and included things such as Monkey bars to see if you could hang on as long as a monkey can Going into a fake giraffes neck to see if you can see as far as them Speed test(though I cant remember which animal it related to!) Scales to see which animal you weigh the equivilant to Strength test to see what animal your as strong as
Oh now I'm going to stop before you rate this too blinking helpful as I've told you everything!
I'll just say there are plenty more funfilled challenges along the way!
Now I hope I'm beginning to make you understand why Drusillas IS 'no ordinary zoo'…..it's not the normal walking around from 1 enclosure to the next looking at large animals in way too small homes…..in fact Drucillas has NO large animals for you to look at,the majority of theirs are different breeds of monkies with a good selection of other types to include servals,flamingos,otters,penguins,capybaras and birds of prey(and more) as well as other sections of farm animals,millennium bugs and bats!(and more)
Along the way you will also find 'sensory trails' which are made up of textured walls,fossils,holes that you place you hand in to identify what creatures skin you are feeling, buttons that you push to light up different things,for example,where what animal originates,different animals nests etc. A maasai exhibit in which you walk through low ceilinged 'caves' and see the living conditions of the maasai.
There is also a 'discovery centre' which is open weekends and school holidays so I'm not sure what this involves as we went on a Monday.
What made the whole of the 'zoo' part of the park so impressive was all these different things that we and the children had to do,the overall cleanliness,all lights/buttons in working order and facilities such as taps for you to wash your hands after touching animals in the farm section and a cow shaped hand dryer!
They had a new breed of monkey in which they had built the new enclosure for (wonderfully I might add!)but the monkies were not in the enclosure…..now in most places you would be left waiting for ages to see if you could find them only to find that the enclosure is empty!This enclosure was in fact empty but it had a nicely carved noticed up explaining that they had recently got the monkies in the zoo and that they are being kept in their indoor home until they became more better aqquainted!Sweet! The simple fact that they had bothered to let us know this is great!
This wasn't an isolated show of empathy…..further on when we came to a section by the flamingo's we noted a sign apologizing for one of the ponds being empty of water,kindly informing us that they completely empty it on a regular basis to ensure the good health and hygiene for the animals that use it! These simple gestures make for a very pleasing and satisfied trip!
Half way through we all decided it was time for a late lunch and a nappy change.Found the restaurant 'explorers' and noticed there were toilets and changing facilities just outside.I took baby to change and hubby took kids to the loo's. The changing room was adoreable!Done out in a Winnie the pooh theme and smelt clean and fresh.I paid £1 for a tube which included 1 nappy,2 wipes and a nappy sack and changed on the spotless pull down changing table. Hubby was well pleased with the toilets and shocked to find a childs toilet and sink located in the mens toilets! Nanny said that the ladies was very pleasant
Pictures of Drusillas Park
my little animals!
also!
Next stop….food!Surely this would be the downside??NO!!We didn't see one neglected table and the whole floor was spotless…..we were again astounded by the size of the place and it was all decorated in a jungle theme with roped off sections of antiques and museum type artifacts. Hubby and nanny went off to get the food,which was set out in that tray type way where you pop your tray on the metal runners and help yourself to cold food and get served up hot food (you know what I mean!)
I managed to find 2 tables close together and started pulling them together when a man came over and did it for me then went off to return with a high chair!
Service was fast for the food and reasonably priced…just over £20 for 2 kids meals of pasta and 3 adult hot meals,also a jar of baby food for which they had a table with microwave to heat it and bottle warmers! There is also a childrens indoor play area which they didn't go in as we had eyed and fab looking outdoor one in the not too far distance!
My hubby's opinion,and I quote, "how can even the restaurant be so good???"!
There is also another eating place called 'oasis café' which is more fast food such as burgers,hotdogs and kids lunch boxes etc.This is closed during winter weekdays.And the dougnut and fudge factory selling the latter as well as cookies,sandwiches and drinks.
Of course we wished we had made more time for the park when we came to the end of the zoo only to find a huge section designated for play!We had spent so much time filling out the kids books,reading animal facts,Olympics ,sensory trails etc that we only had about an hour left to play!
This is no ordinary play park!Really it isn't!Not a normal swing or slide in site!Instead there are tyre swings and slides from fire engines and milk floats! There are a few different sections for age groups,for older kids you have a large wooden construction full of ropes,climbing ,ladders etc.The main section with the above fire engine is suitable for toddlers and older kids alike.There is an under 4 section.An indoor play barn which is full of straw and has slides and those rope swing things which you jump on and swing for ages….I had to have a go! We really could have done with another hour to appreciate all that was on offer in this HUGE section!
Plenty of seating and picnic areas if you brought you own food.
In addition to this there was the free…yes free….train ride….we didn't have the time but it looked sweet,pushchairs were to be left in buggy park.
There are also the payable 'extras' where a small fee is chargable for the following: Shooting Gallery Jungle adventure golf Dino-dig Vertical limit Panning for gold
We also passed a lovely looking paddling pool called 'explorers lagoon',I believe this is quite new as it looked pristeen but the weather was'nt great and time was getting on so we did'nt delve any further...it was situated in a gated section and surrounded by lovely plant life and picnic benches.
Last but not least it was gift shop time….time to get stung with over priced goodies!The kids had £5 each to spend and there was more than enough for them to spend it on! In the end my son settled on a pair of glow in the dark T-Rex shortie pajama's and I was more than a little surprised to see that they were only priced at £4.50!(no they weren't in the sale either!)So he also got a bouncy ball with a miniture(of course) dinosaur inside of it.
……..Note to families with dino mad lads…..go to drusillas for this reason alone!The gift shops are full of dinosaur stuff…..I had spent months prior to our holiday (sons 4th birthday on Saturday we were away)finding dino stuff for him and I could have got it all here!…………………
My daughter got a beautiful sequined butterfly purse and a little sparkly trinket ring.Not too bad for a fiver each I think!
End of day……………..
A short summary as I think I have been summarizing it up as I've gone………
£50 entrance fee…thought to be steep at first…I would have paid more if I knew what was ahead…honestly….I have nothing but good things to say about Drusillas,it far exceeded any expectations I had…..granted I didn't have high ones to start with but none the less!
No…it may not have lions and elephants(should any zoo???)and no it hasn't got road signs 100miles away(though I really think they should)……..the park was clean,tidy,enclosures were amazing,every little button and bulb worked…nothing was out of order,lovely baby changing facilities,plenty of disabled facilities(toilets,access etc).
This park hasn't just been thrown together to make a fortune,it is a charitable zoo who really do appear to take an extremely high level of pride in catering for their animals needs as well as that of their visitors. They haven't missed a thing when it came to catering for adults and children alike,the kids have plenty to do all the way through whilst the adults are reading all the 'boring'(but very interesting bits!) All the staff we came in contact with were well mannered and polite.Service was second to none.
A highly recommended family day out (and I mean day..not half of one like us!)which is always adding new things….there was a board up at entrance telling us of the new things they have coming over the next year…more recently being the lar gibbons(opens summer 05) and amazon adventure(opens late summer) and a whole list of other things…this place really is just growing and growing as time goes on and I'm sure one day soon it will get it's well deserved road signs!
We wont hesitate to re-visit when we are next in the area!
Thanks for reading
Ohh and by the way.....I won the zoolympics!....what do you mean I cheated.....it does'nt make the slight bit of difference the kids are only 4 and 5...surely that should make them fitter than myself no????? ha ha ha
Kerry xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PS ......visit the website at www.drusillas.co.uk (am I allowed to put this on here???? ;-)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
What a fantsactic review! My parents used to take me to Drusillas when I was little and now it's one of my favourite places to take my kids for an always enjoyable day out. I'm so glad you had a wonderful time adn I hope it inspires more people to visit - Drusillas is every bit as good as this review suggests.
Averilla 03.07.2005 07:04
We have visited several times as we don't live too far away. We have mixed feelings about this place, on good days it is very very good , on bad days..just well bad and disorganised. My son isn't so interested in the animals now though and our main time is spent around the play area and the crazy golf. Av x
paulywally 01.07.2005 17:45
Wow,I came on here hoping to find this park as I am going to it this weekend.Excellent review,will keep an eye out for more!
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Jun 17th, 2005
exceptional by (22%):
very helpful by (78%):
